A New Age of Medicine for Alzheimer’s. 6.7 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease today and will nearly 14 million by 2060 (CDC). When cognitive decline continues, most lose independence, making full-time care inevitable.
Two newly approved medicines—lecanemab (Leqembi) and donanemab (Kisunla)—promise to reverse this decline by attacking amyloid plaques, proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease. While previous treatments merely treat symptoms, these medicines can postpone full-time care.
But do they really make a difference? And is it worth the cost and health risk to have that added independence of a few extra months of life?
How Many Extra Months Will These Meds Give You?
A new study by Washington University School of Medicine investigated how much longer people on these medicines were able to maintain control of daily activities like driving, meal preparation, and managing money without needing care.
The Big Findings:
For early-stage Alzheimer’s disease (mild cognitive impairment):
Without medication: ~29 months of living on your own
Donanemab: +8 months
Lecanemab: +10 months
For mild dementia (obvious memory loss and daily task difficulty):
Donanemab: +19 months of care-taking on your own (showering, meal preparation, dressing)
Lecanemab: +26 months of care-taking on your own
Though these findings delay cognitive decline, no cure is on the horizon—only gradual decline takes its sweet sweet sweet time.
“No Cure—Merely Slower Decline”
Not that Dr. Richard Isaacson, institute director of the Institute of Neurodegenerative Diseases, is negative on lecanemab or donanemab:
“These are no miracle medicines. All that people do is that they get better or stay better or improve by that much—so rather than losing three years, people lose two years.”
For some, a matter of a few extra months of home life versus life within care can make all the difference. But others will weigh that risks and expenses are too great.
The Risks & Expensiveness of The Treatment
1. Serious Risks to Your Brain
The treatments involve continuing scans of your brain to watch amyloid imaging changes called ARIAs, resulting in swelling or bleeding of your brain.
Lecanemab: 2.8 percent of individuals had ARIA swelling/bleeding complications; there were deaths of six of its individuals.
Donanemab: 2.9 percent had severe ARIAs; there were deaths of three of its individuals.
Additional complications are confusion, lightheadedness, headaches, seizures.
2. Expensiveness
Even on Medicare, co-pays each year are thousands of dollars. Compared to what care is costing, some will view expense worthwhile—others, unfortunately, might view it out of budget range.
3. Ethical and Emotional Consideration
As neither of these treatments reverses Alzheimer’s, families must weigh what’s worthwhile regarding added independence of a few months versus risks and expense.
The Future of Treating Alzheimer’s
1. The Importance of Early Detection
The treatments will only most successfully treat early-stage Alzheimer’s but most people are diagnosed too late. The promise of early-detection tests using your blood might make earlier treatments possible, increasing success of treatments like lecanemab or donanemab.
2. More Than Medicine: Lifestyle & Prevention
Lifestyle choices can lower your chance of Alzheimer’s by much—
Exercise lowers your risk by up to 40 percent (Alzheimer’s Association).
Eating a Mediterranean diet is linked to gradual memory decline.
Social engagement, cognitive training, keep your brain function sharp.
Experts have said that money should invest on prevention, rather on developing medicines only.
Final Thoughts: Are the Drugs Worth It?
For care-takers and individuals diagnosed, taking lecanemab or donanemab is complex. While delaying full care, it also takes great risks along with great expense.
The bigger issue is: Are we investing money on drug treatments or preventive treatments that can delay Alzheimer’s altogether?
What Do You Think?
Would you use this new medication on yourself or on your relative? Are benefits outweighing risks? Share your views below.
References & Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2025
Alzheimer’s Association Annual Report, 2025
Washington University School of Medicine’s independent living study (Alzheimer’s & Dementia Journal, 2025)
FDA Updates on Lecanemab & Donanemab, 2024
